AUGUSTA – On July 1, Gov. Janet Mills signed into law legislation sponsored by Rep. Kristen Cloutier, D-Lewiston, that will better equip those who menstruate with the knowledge they need to help navigate menopause and make informed decisions about their bodies and health.
LD 1079 will direct the Department of Health and Human Services to work with healthcare providers – including obstetricians, gynecologists and primary care physicians – as well as community-based health programs and hospitals, to develop comprehensive education materials about perimenopause and menopause. These resources will provide information about the symptoms, physical and emotional changes, treatment options and long-term health considerations associated with these transitions.
“I introduced this bill because resources and information about menopause are not mainstream in the ways they are for other normal life phases,” said Cloutier. “Failure to inform and educate people about menopause has huge health and economic impacts. This bill represents a crucial step toward normalizing conversations about menopause and equipping individuals with the accurate information they need to make the best decisions for their individual health.”
According to data collected by AARP, 80% of graduating internal medicine residents did not feel competent to discuss or treat menopause. Only 20% of OB/GYN residencies offer menopause training and half of all U.S. OB/GYN residencies thought they needed more education on menopause medicine. Additionally, it is estimated that 85% of perimenopausal and menopausal people experience symptoms that impact their quality of life, but only 60% seek clinical help. Of these people, 75% subsequently go untreated.”
The new law will go into effect September 24, 2025.
Rep. Kristen Cloutier is serving her fourth term in the Maine House and represents House District 94, which includes part of her hometown of Lewiston. She is the House chair of the Taxation Committee and serves as a member of the Appropriations and Financial Affairs Committee.
Contact:
Brian Lee (Cloutier) | 305-965-2744